"How can you develop good policy when public perceptions can be so out of kilter with the evidence?"

The study claims there is a wide divide between public opinion and evidence

How can you develop good policy when public perceptions can be so out of kilter with the evidence?

Hetan Shah - executive director of the Royal Statistical Society

The study adds that over a quarter (26 per cent) believe foreign aid is one of the top three areas of government spending.

However, it only makes up 1.1 per cent of expenditure using the 2011/2012 financial year figures.

And it adds that the public believe 24 per cent of the population are Muslims, when in England and Wales it stands at five per cent.

Mr Shah adds: "We need to see three things happen. Firstly, politicians need to be better at talking about the real state of affairs of the country, rather than spinning the numbers.

"Secondly, the media has to try and genuinely illuminate issues, rather than use statistics to sensationalise.

"And finally, we need better teaching of statistical literacy in schools, so that people get more comfortable in understanding evidence. Our getstats campaign is trying to create change at all of these levels."